Ugly Pike Podcast

The Ugly Pike Podcast opens 2026 with an unfiltered, wide-ranging conversation on musky fishing, experience, and long-term strategy. Frank and Chris sit down with Johnny Dadson and Pete Bostelmann to reflect on the 2025 season and explore how mindset, conditions, and time on the water shape success more than predictions ever could. From travel fishing and adapting to unfamiliar water, to casting v...

Chris and Frank take a look back at the 2025 year on and off the water, reviewing memorable events, interviews, and lessons learned

Chris and Frank take a look back at the 2025 year on and off the water, reviewing memorable events, interviews, and lessons learned

In this second part of our interview with Kory, the focus shifts to the fine details of fishing both conventional and unconventional water systems.  Kory drills down on his approach to the various environments that we all love to tackle and provides essential details that will aid the listener to become a more diverse and adaptive angler.  Topics include: Fishing shallow water River systems How se...

Kory Maxfield is a genuine outdoorsman.  In this episode, we sit with Kory and talk about the rituals that crafted his childhood as he grew up in a family that put the outdoors first.  On his page, Slump Bust Outdoors, Kory displays his life lessons as they relate to muskie fishing and in this episode, we tie it all together.  Points of discussion include:  Growing up in an outdoor family Generati...

In this second part of our discussion with Zach, we get into the details on how to catch fish.  Zach breaks out tournament fishing tactics, as well as how to select and work baits. Zach gives tremendous detail in this second part and winds it up with a truly special fishing story.  This was truly an amazing chat for us.  Points include: Muskie tournament strategy vs casual angling  Lure selection...

Zach Baker has been fishing muskies for decades.  He is a unique person and angler that provided not only detailed information on targeting muskies in this part one of our interview, but wonderful stories.  This interview exemplifies why muskie fishing, and the people we do it with, is so special.  A truly remarkable interview.  In this first part, we drill down on:   Zach's origin story  The...

In this Full Moon Friday episode, the guys take a call from Kyle Carruthers, organizer of the juggernaut CANCAST fishing show.  Kyle talks about the recent decision to merge with the Musky Odyssey and why he feels this will be a big positive for the muskie anglers in attendance.  A great talk ensued about the origins of CANCAST and how his never-quit entrepreneurial spirit helped Kyle transform th...

In this second part of our episode with Pete and Cody, Pete lends more incredible insights into the behaviour of these amazing fish.  Cody, who is coming to the dark side as he fishes more and more for muskies, talks about how what it takes for serious MMA training is not all that dissimilar to pursuing the queen of queens!  To top off the discussion, the guys tell a story about what happened a fe...

This episode is a banger!  Newly signed UFC fighter Cody Chovancek comes onto the podcast with friend of the show Pete Bostelmann to talk about hunting muskies.  Cody is an amazing multi-species angler who is introduced as the Best Fisherman in MMA for all his bouts!  Pete needs no introduction and is widely known for producing some of the very best and most insightful Ugly Pike Podcast content in...

In this second part of our interview with muskie guide Cooper Edwards, we get into the red-hot issue of live scope usage before shifting focus to talk about how to hone the right skills for a successful trip on a great Ontario muskie lake and what new anglers should know and be aware of before heading out on the water.  Cooper closes the show with a hilarious and epic story of a big fish adventure...

Cooper Edwards has had the privilege of fishing and guiding some of the very best muskie lakes in Canada and the US.  We wanted to sit with Cooper and talk about his experiences on these incredible bodies of water.  Cooper recalls some of the laughs, the highs, and the lows of working as a guide on places like Lac Seul, Eagle Lake, and Lake St. Clair.  In this part one, we discuss:  Fishing during...

In this Full Moon Friday episode, the guys have a look toward the end of the season.  It is the start of the final stretch, otherwise known as giant season!  Frank gives a review of how the Unleash the Beast outing on the French River/Lake Nipissing went, as well as an update on a recent adventure to Georgian Bay with Pete Bostelmann and newly signed UFC fighter, Cody Chovancek.  Following this, D...

In this second part with Ben LaDuca, the conversation shifts to fishing, how to build baits, and how approaches to using these baits shift for Fall/Winter season success!  Points include:  Building the Dukes Dozers company  Building and fishing spinnerbaits  Using spinnerbaits in fall and winter season specifically for best results   Jigging success Niagara Musky Association log keeping  

In this episode the guys sit for a riveting talk with Ben LaDuca, owner of Dukes Dozers Spinnerbaits.  Ben is an avid angler and the story of what lead him to this sport will lave listeners on the edge of their seats.  The guys had an amazing discussion on Ben's history as a USAF soldier who survived multiple deployments to the Middle East and how he turned to fishing to deal with the afterma...

In part 2 of our discussion with Fisheries Technician Erin Wilson, we turn our attention to the science of muskies and muskie ecology.  Erin delves into the whys and hows of collecting data and provides fascinating insights as to how she uses not only technology to learn about these fish, but also how she draws upon the community of anglers itself to provide critical data on this elusive species. ...

It's not everyday that we get to sit with an avid muskie angler who is also a scientist who has devoted her educational pursuits and working life to understanding muskies.  In this episode we sit down with Erin Wislon is currently employed as a Fisheries Technician at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, but recently graduated from her master’s at the Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Lab wher...

In this Full Moon Friday episode, Chris and Frank discuss the high points of recent episodes and in particular, how mega guest JP Bushey's advice will influence Frank's approach to the upcoming Unleash the Beast outing on the French River/ Lake Nipissing.  UTB outing director Todd Dowell of Toddy Tickle Baits calls into the show to discuss this year's adventure, what has changed, an...

In this second part with JP Bushey, the talk turns technical.  How to properly use baits, especially rubber baits dominates the discussion.  JP gives a huge amount of details in this section. As Chris calls it, a true pen and paper session so prepare to take notes and to emerge from this second part a wiser angler.  What a session!! Points of discussion include: Auto chart  - the game changer Over...

Episode 245 is live!!  We usually don't like to approach guides during the season for the show, but we absolutely had to get JP Bushey back on the show.  JP is one of the best multispecies guides on Georgian Bay and a top muskie angler in the community.  In this first part, we get into the fabric of the Canadian Angler, a gritty talk about who we are and what makes us different.  JP then give...

In the final chapter of the Live from Lac Seul series, Chris and Frank sit with their guides and discuss the wonder of Lac Seul, what it is like working in such a paradise guiding people on their trips of a lifetime! 

In this third part of the Live from Lac Seul series, Chris and Frank are joined by guide Zack Tucker who broke the days long slump and helped the guys get the job done!  After days of relentless grind, the guys were all elated to get one in the bag.  In this part they talk about how they got the job done

In this second part, the guys carry on with their chat with guide Joe Marsh to discuss the challenges they faced in the early days of their trip and how to best approach the pitfalls of navigating a challenging lake like Lac Seul

Taking a trip of a lifetime to one of Canada's best angling lakes should be fun and easy, but not for muskie anglers.  In this first session of our series live from Moosehorn Lodge on the legendary Lac Seul, the guys go over the challenges that a cold front brought to their first days on the water.  Chris and Frank sit with guide Joe Marsh and review how the first days of the adventure went,...

In the conclusion of the guys' chat with The Musky Hunter Jim Saric, changing and adopting new tactics for hunting muskies are discussed.  Jim also lends some knowledge on how to deal with lethargic or picky fish and how to make them take the bait!  Points of discussion include:   Changing and adopting new habits Using Livescope to scout water and understand muskies Enticing fish to strike